A drunken man strangled his “outstanding and gifted” university girlfriend in
an assault which was recorded on her friend’s voicemail, a court heard
yesterday.

Carmen Miron Buchacra, 28 called her friend when Paul Keene, 32, arrived at their home and started a violent argument following an all-day drinking binge at a game of boules.

Miss Miron Buchacra, a PhD student in postgenomic biosciences at Bath University, begged for her life as Keene throttled her with an electrical flex as the couple’s 11-week-old baby lay in a cot nearby, Bristol Crown Court was told.

She twice called her friend Ben Jones for help but he had no signal as he was on a train and Miss Miron Buchacra’s last moments were recorded on his answerphone.

She can be heard pleading as Keene repeatedly punched her in the face, telling her to shut up or “you will be dead”.

Half an hour later Keene, posing as his girlfriend, sent a text to Mr Jones claiming that everything was fine, the jury heard.

Mr Jones became suspicious and called the emergency services after Keene refused to let him speak to his friend, insisting she had gone for a walk to “cool off”. Police and paramedics arrived at the couple’s flat in Bath, Somerset and discovered the body.

Keene, a financial adviser, was arrested and admitted killing his girlfriend but said he could remember only vague details, the court heard.

He denies murder, but has admitted manslaughter on the grounds of loss of control.